William Child

(1606-1697)

Organist and composer. His early musical studies were at Bristol Cathedral, where he sang in the choir, and at Oxford, where he completed a degree in 1631. The following year he was made organist at St. George's Chapel, Windsor, where he had served as clerk since 1630. He was expelled from the chapel during the Interregnum; after the Restoration (1660) he was given back his post and was eventually made musician to the chapel royal. He composed some twenty services and eighty anthems, as well as instrumental music.